Adjustable water level and erosion control device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable levee preserving and erosion minimizing device for controlling the level of levee-entrapped irrigation water in a first field or area located, for example, on one side of a marginal levee embankment and which, in addition, serves to transfer and drain some or all of the water from the first area to a second lower level area or ditch on the other side of the levee embankment. This improvement is characterized, broadly stated, by conduit means embodying a drainage pipe which is adapted to be submerged and firmly embedded in a bottom portion of the levee embankment, said pipeline having a constantly open discharge end in communication with the second area or ditch and an intake end. A water intake coupling is provided and has a horizontal portion aligned and communicatively united with the intake end of the drainage pipeline. In addition there is a complemental vertical portion and, as is obvious, the coupling is also adapted to be embedded and, generically construed, the lower end portion of the coupling is provided with suitably weighted hold-down and anchoring means. Although the pipeline and coupling can be conjointly used for complete drainage and erosion control, a sleeve is provided and fitted into an upper end portion of the vertical portion of the coupling. The sleeve has an upper end portion which is open and projects upwardly above the bottom of the entrapped water confining area and functions to automatically control the overflow and level of the water therein. In addition to its use as an adjustable water level control device the construction is such that it can also be used for erosion control at which time the adjustable sleeve and complemental gasket are not used whereby to thus provide a simple weighted drain and erosion control device.

United States Patent [191' Soileau ADJUSTABLE WATER LEVEL AND EROSION CONTROL DEVICE [76] Inventor: Hosea J. Soileau, 614 N. Coreil SL,

Ville Platte, La. 70586 [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,007

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,563,574 2/1971 Jackson 285/423 3,555,829 1/1971 Trenmella t 61/17 3,276,176 10/1966 .lonsson 52/706 2,551,393 5/1951 Pinger.... 285/61 1,833,040 11/1931 Rader 285/302 1,373,979 4/1921 Ryals 52/296 1,281,008 10/1918 Howard 61/18 X 1,271,105 7/1918 Wagner... 52/296 1,083,148 12/1913 Sparks ..6l/10 853,900 5/1907 Saunders 285/231 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3,037 7/1881 Great Britain 285/345 Primary Examiner-Mervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Alex Grosz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An adjustable levee preserving and erosion minimizing Apr. 16, 1974 device for controlling the level of levee-entrapped irrigation water in a first field or area located, for example, on one side of a marginal levee embankment and which, in addition, serves to transfer and drain some or all of the water from the first area to a second lower level area or ditch on the other side of the levee embankment. This improvement is characterized, broadly stated, by conduit means embodying a drainage pipe which is adapted to be submerged and firmly embedded in a bottom portion of the levee embankment, said pipeline having a constantly open discharge end in communication with the second area or ditch and an intake end. A water intake coupling is provided and has a horizontal portion aligned and communicatively united with the intake end of the drainage pipeline. In addition there is a complemental vertical portion and, as is obvious, the coupling is also adapted to be embedded and, generically construed, the lower end portion of the coupling is provided with suitably weighted hold-down and anchoring means. Although the pipeline and coupling can be conjointly used for complete drainage and erosion control, a sleeve is provided and fitted into an upper end portion of the vertical portion of the coupling. The sleeve has an upper end portion which is open and projects upwardly above the bottom of the entrapped water confining area and functions to automatically control the overflow and level of the water therein. In addition to its use as an adjustable water level control device the 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures .tionally for transferring and emptying said water for complete drainage into a ditch or the like on that side of the embankment opposite the irrigation water pooling but regulable area.

For background purposes and as indicative, in part, of the state of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 1,281,008, granted to Charles S. Howard and which has to do with an irrigation device having interconnected and communicating branches and wherein the horizontal branch or drainage pipe is embedded transversely beneath the elevated levee. Attention may also be accorded U.S. Pat. No. 3,555,829, granted to N. W. Trewhella which has to do with overflow discharge outlets and irrigation systems incorporating the same and pertains, more specifically, to adjustable means which is operable to regulate the flow of water and which utilizes a band or collar for the purpose. For further background information and because it pertains to an advance in this line of endeavor, more specific reference may be made to my prior U.S. Pat. 3,701,260 directed to a water control device and expressly designed for use when and where necessary in association with irrigated land, a rice field for example, which is marginally encompassed on at least one side with a levee-type embankment.

Briefly the herein disclosed device functions for automatically controlling the level of the levee entrapped irrigation water in a given field or area and, in addition, for transferring and emptying said water for complete drainage into an adjacent ditch or low level area provided on the other side of the embankment, the structural arrangement being characterized by a drainage conduit embodying a horizontal drainage pipeline which is adapted to be embedded in a plane beneath the embankment and which has a constantly open out ward outlet end communicable with the ditch. Rigid inward upstanding vertically disposed means is provided for receiving and transferring the overflow of irrigation water from the first-named field or area and delivering the same by gravity to the inlet end of the horizontal pipeline. Then, too, means is provided for operatively joining an upstanding overflow inlet sleeve having a constantly open upper end and a lower end telescopingly and adjustably as well as removably connected with vertically disposed pipe means in a manner that the upper end of the sleeve controls the level of the levee entrapped water. The upstanding vertically disposed means embodies a vertical branch constituting a coupling and having an upper terminal end which is interiorly beveled and a lower open end. The sleeve constitutes an extensible and retractable water level determining and control member and is readily attachable to and detachable from the upper end of the vertical branch. In addition an elastic sleeve supporting and joint sealing ring surrounds and is adjustably mounted on an exterior surface portion of the sleeve. The upper end of the vertical branch provides a limit stop shoulder and the sealing ring can be of a size that it can be seated atop said limit stop shoulder.

An object of the present invention is to structurally, functionally and in other ways improve upon the prior art adaptations above referred to and, in so doing, to provide a simple, practical and time and labor saving structure which well serves the many purposes for which it has been devised.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the aforementioned elevated levee embankment, the water pooling area or field on one side normally functioning as a rice field, the lower level ditch or means on the other side of the embankment and, what is more significant, the improved adjustable levee preserving erosion minimizing device constructed and embedded for controlling the level of the entrapped water and also, when necessary, complete drainage.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed section taken on the plane of the vertical section line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 3 is a similar fragmentary detailed sectional and elevational view but taken on the plane of the vertical section line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an exploded type showing the sleeve, the ring type gasket and upper end of the vertical portion of the aforementioned T-coupling;

By way of introduction to the description of the details it may be pointed outthat the practice and procedure of growing a rice crop demands (1) the applying of water and 2) drawing out of water several times before the final drainage period is taken care of. In order to apply and maintain the proper amount of water effectively separation levees are constructed of earth at predetermined distances apart ranging anywhere from one hundred feet to possibly 500 feet and depending to some extent on the contour of the land and elevation. These levees are normally from 6 inches to 12 inches in height depending on the requirements at hand. When the rice crop has reached a growth of about 6 inches in height it is common practice for farmers to start maintaining from 2 inches to six inches of water above the ground to prevent weeds from growing and also to permit the growth of rice. When confronted with a sudden and heavy rainfall the rain water will bring about an excess of water that would ordinarily be needed to supply the crop and may well start running over the levees which in turn will start washing out. When this happens not only will the farmer lose costly water but more erosion will follow and costly labor is cumstances the average farmer can afford to install the same. This is because, of the fact that the pipe components can be fabricated from pipe materials which lend themselves to proper use when embedded underground. For the most part the pipe means employed and shown is made of asbestos-cement or moldable plastic material. The size of the component parts will vary relative to the entrapped water and also the level requirements needed.

As brought out in FIG. 1 the aforementioned irrigation water pooling area A is located on one side of the elevated levee embankment B. The normal supply of water is denoted at C and is transferred from area A to area D which is on the other side of the embankment B.

It may be stated further somewhat by way of introduction that when installed the hole is dug larger than the vertical pipe means. The vertical pipe means is installed so that the upper edge is about six inches below ground level. Concrete is poured into the pipe means to the level of the concrete shown and oozes out through holes in the bottom of the vertical portion of the T-coupling.

The device can also be used for erosion control in which event the adjustable pipe and gasket means shown will not be used. On the other hand the concrete anchor means will, of course, be used.

It will be significant to note that the disclosed invention is capable of use as a simple substantially L-shaped drain transferring pooled water from one area to another and may be used for irrigation and level control as best brought out in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 the overall conduit means embodies a drainage pipeline denoted by the numeral 6 and which has a constantly open discharge end 8 opening into the field or area D. The intake end portion is denoted at 10 and is operatively connectible with coupling means. The coupling means here employed comprises a simple substantially conventional type T-coupling 12 having a vertical branch portion 14 with an upper slightly enlarged or bell-mouth portion 16 whose upper edge is denoted at 18 and which in practice is located slightly above the surface 20. The upper end 18 is completely open as is the lower end 22. The relatively short horizontal branch 24 telescopingly receives the end portion 10 of the pipe 6, the two parts being permanently connected by solvent-welding, as denoted at 26. As previously pointed out concrete is poured into the vertical pipe means and settles at the bottom as denoted at 28 and when it sets up and hardens it provides a complete closure for said lower end. It should be noted in FIG. 3 that the lower end portion 22 is provided with two or more circumferentially spaced diametrically opposite openings or slots 30. These slots allow a portion of the concrete poured to ooze out, flow through the slots, surround the exterior bottom portion 22 and, in doing so, to provide an anchoring collar as denoted at 32 in FIG. 3. Also in practice reinforcing rods 34 are provided, one of these being shown and having its major portion embedded in the concrete and having a terminal end portion 36 projecting outwardly through and beyond the slot into the encompassing concrete collar 32. This concrete, when fully hardened, provides not only a closure but weighting, hold-down and anchoring means. The upper open end portion of the bell mouth 16 is provided with an interiorly located bevel or beveled surface 38 which registers with an endless annular shoulder 40. This shouldered and beveled end portion serves to accommodate a coating end portion 42 of a projectable and retractable sleeve 44 whose upper open end is denoted at 46. For best results a collar-like ring or ring-type rubber gasket is provided as at 48 and this is made to snugly surround the sleeve and preferably has slightly beveled peripheral surfaces to function in the close-fitting manner shown in FIG. 2. This gasket ring is provided with circumferentially spaced sockets 50 which add to the resiliency of the ring.

It is reiterated that the concept is such that the device can be used in erosion control in which event the adjustable pipe and basket are not used. However, and in all instances the concrete hold-down anchor means is used.

It is believed that by considering the views of the drawing, singly and collectively, a clear and comprehensive understanding of the inventive concept will be had. This is to say, FIG. I shows the complete ready-touse water level and drainage control device for an irrigated land area, the sleeve, concrete means and gasket ring being shown separately in the other views.

It may be addedthat it is within the purview of the invention (not shown) to provide a gasket ring similar to the ring 48 and which is not inserted between the beveled surface 38 and seated on the ledge but simply surrounds the peripheral surface portion of the optional and insertable and removable sleeve 44. In this instance the gasket could rest (not shown) directly on the top surface of the upper end of the vertical portion of the conduit means 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An adjustable levee preserving erosion minimizing device for controlling the level of levee-entrapped irrigation water in a first area located on one side of a marginal levee embankment and also for transferring and draining some or all of said irrigation water from said first area to a second lower level ditch-type area on the other side of the levee embankment comprising, in combination, conduit means embodying a drainage pipe line adapted to be embedded and submerged in a bottom portion of said embankment and having a constantly open discharge end in communication with said ditch-type area and an intake end, a water intake coupling having a horizontal branch portion aligned and communicatively united with said intake end and a complemental vertical portion, said coupling also adapted to be embedded in said first area adjacent said intake end, weighting, hold-down, and anchoring means, a vertically disposed upstanding sleeve having hold-down means comprising concrete lodged, hardened and bonded in the lower'end portion of the coupling and wholly closing said lower end portion, said lower end portion having circumferentially spaced diametrically opposite slots which function, in part, to allow portions of the concrete to ooze out and pass through and beyond said slots in a manner to increase the hold-down functioning of the weighting and holddown concrete, a rigid reinforcing rod embedded in the concrete and having terminal end portions aligned with and passing outwardly through and beyond the respectively cooperable slots, and a tight-fitting, self-retaining joint sealing ring-type gasket retentively, but adjustably encompassing a lower portion of said sleeve and being adapted to be supported by an upper end portion of said vertical portion.

2. The device in and according to claim 1, and wherein the upper end portion of said vertical portion is interiorly bevelled and provided with a complemental endless annular shoulder providing a seating ledge for said ring-type gasket.

3. The device defined in and'according to claim 2, and wherein said gasket is provided with a multiplicity of upwardly opening circumferentially spaced sockets which function to provide added resiliency, whereby to permit the gasket to achieve and maintain the desired self-retaining result.

4. An erosion control device comprising a T-coupling having upper and lower vertical branch portions and an integral complemental horizontal branch portion lateral to said vertical branch portions, said vertical branch portions being open at respective upper and lower ends, said lower branch portion having diametrically opposite rod accommodating slots, a concrete weighting and hold-down anchor lodged, bonded and closing the lower end portion of said lower vertical branch portion, a rigid reinforcing rod embedded in said concrete anchor and having terminal end portions aligned with and passing outwardly through and beyond the respectively cooperable slots, the slotted por tion of said lower branch portion being encompassed by a rigid encompassing collar and the terminal end portions of said rod being embedded in coacting por tions of said collar, said concrete anchor having an enclosed upper surface disposed in a plane flush with said horizontal branch, the upper end portion of said vertical branch being increased in diameter and providing a bell-mouth, the upper end of said bell-mouth being interiorly beveled and provided with a complemental endless annular shoulder providing a seating ledge, and a tight-fitting self-retaining joint sealing ring-type gasket retentively but adjustably encompassing the lower portion of a sleeve which is adapted to be fitted into said bell-mouth, and a complemental horizontal pipe said horizontal branch portion. 

1. An adjustable levee preserving erosion minimizing device for controlling the level of levee-entrapped irrigation water in a first area located on one side of a marginal levee embankment and also for transferring and draining some or all of said irrigation water from said first area to a second lower level ditch-type area on the other side of the levee embankment comprising, in combination, conduit means embodying a drainage pipe line adapted to be embedded and submerged in a bottom portion of said embankment and having a constantly open discharge end in communication with said ditch-type area and an intake end, a water intake coupling having a horizontal branch portion aligned and communicatively united with said intake end and a complemental vertical portion, said coupling also adapted to be embedded in said first area adjacent said intake end, weighting, hold-down, and anchoring means, a vertically disposed upstanding sleeve having a lower end portion telescopingly, adjustably and removably fitted into an upper end portion of the vertical portion of said coupling, said sleeve having an upper open end projecting inwardly abOve the bottom of the entrapped water and functioning to control the overflow and level of said entrapped water, said coupling being T-shaped in elevation, said vertical portion being open at respective upper and lower ends, said horizontal branch portion being operatively secured to the intake end of said drainage pipe line, said weighting and hold-down means comprising concrete lodged, hardened and bonded in the lower end portion of the coupling and wholly closing said lower end portion, said lower end portion having circumferentially spaced diametrically opposite slots which function, in part, to allow portions of the concrete to ooze out and pass through and beyond said slots in a manner to increase the hold-down functioning of the weighting and hold-down concrete, a rigid reinforcing rod embedded in the concrete and having terminal end portions aligned with and passing outwardly through and beyond the respectively cooperable slots, and a tight-fitting, selfretaining joint sealing ring-type gasket retentively, but adjustably encompassing a lower portion of said sleeve and being adapted to be supported by an upper end portion of said vertical portion.
 2. The device in and according to claim 1, and wherein the upper end portion of said vertical portion is interiorly bevelled and provided with a complemental endless annular shoulder providing a seating ledge for said ring-type gasket.
 3. The device defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said gasket is provided with a multiplicity of upwardly opening circumferentially spaced sockets which function to provide added resiliency, whereby to permit the gasket to achieve and maintain the desired self-retaining result.
 4. An erosion control device comprising a T-coupling having upper and lower vertical branch portions and an integral complemental horizontal branch portion lateral to said vertical branch portions, said vertical branch portions being open at respective upper and lower ends, said lower branch portion having diametrically opposite rod accommodating slots, a concrete weighting and hold-down anchor lodged, bonded and closing the lower end portion of said lower vertical branch portion, a rigid reinforcing rod embedded in said concrete anchor and having terminal end portions aligned with and passing outwardly through and beyond the respectively cooperable slots, the slotted portion of said lower branch portion being encompassed by a rigid encompassing collar and the terminal end portions of said rod being embedded in coacting portions of said collar, said concrete anchor having an enclosed upper surface disposed in a plane flush with said horizontal branch, the upper end portion of said vertical branch being increased in diameter and providing a bell-mouth, the upper end of said bell-mouth being interiorly beveled and provided with a complemental endless annular shoulder providing a seating ledge, and a tight-fitting self-retaining joint sealing ring-type gasket retentively but adjustably encompassing the lower portion of a sleeve which is adapted to be fitted into said bell-mouth, and a complemental horizontal pipe line having an intake end communicatively joined to said horizontal branch portion. 